Hawai’i still under tsunami advisory; all clear on O’ahu, Kaua’i; Big Island, Maui see big waves

The main danger from tsunami in Hawai’i has passed, but the state remains under a tsunami advisory, meaning strong currents and sea level shifts could cause damage in harbors, marinas and nearshore areas. The Associated Press has reported flooded hotel lobbies and roadways in low-lying areas of the Big Island and Maui, and while Honolulu Mayor Peter Carlisle and Kaua’i Mayor Bernard Carvalho issued an

“all clear” earlier this morning for their islands, with all roads open on O’ahu and Kaua’i, the public is encouraged to stay out of the ocean for the rest of the day.

The waves generated from last night’s 8.9 earthquake in Japan <a reached Hawai'i in the early morning hours today, with the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center reporting surges as high as 5.7 feet in Kahului, Maui’s main harbor, at 3:27 a.m. (all Hawai’i times given in local time.) On Lana’i, the western harbor of Kauamalapau registered a 3-foot surge at 5:31 a.m. Maui County Civil Defense is continuing to monitor the situation before declaring an all clear.

On the Big Island, a 4.6-foot wave struck Hilo (no stranger to tsunami) at 4:08 a.m., while a 4-foot wave hit Kawaihae harbor on the West Side at 4:13 a.m. While the wave report from the center did not include specific figures for Kailua-Kona, the online Big Island Civil Defense message (updated at 5:30 a.m. local time) says “damaging waves have been reported” in the town, which has been working hard to revive its historic, oceanfront village; see the nighttime video below. An evacuation order remains in effect, and all beaches are closed.

Farther north, O’ahu recorded waves of 2.3 feet in Honolulu and Barbers Point (Kalaeloa) at 4:10 a.m. and 3:08 a.m.; KHON news reported a surge that “covered the Waikiki breakwall by Kapahulu Avenue in a matter of five minutes,” followed by an even larger surge at 3:38 a.m. (click here for a time-lapse video of still images.) According to the tsunami warning center Nawiliwili Harbor on Kaua’i also saw a 2.5 foot surge at 3:43 a.m. O’ahu and Kaua’i authorities were able to sound an all clear a couple of hours ago, based on this explanation from the center:

When no major waves are observed for two hours after the estimated time of arrival [in this case, 3:07 a.m. Hawai'i time] or damaging waves have not occurred for at least two hours, then local authorities can assume the threat is passed. Danger to boats and coastal structures can continue for several hours due to rapid currents. As local conditions can cause a wide variation in tsunami wave action the all clear determination must be made by local authorities.